Rivals | D.M

4. I'm a Slytherin

"I can't wait until we get to make a love potion" Harper says as she flips through our potions textbook."Apparently there's one called Amortentia and it smells different for every person and varies based on what you're attracted to". She gives me her classic wink.

"What are you going to smell then Harps? Cedric's cologne?" I tease, organising each ingredient ready for today's potion.

"Nah I'm over Cedric. He totally bailed on me the other day and like I don't have time for that shit" I look over to find her awkwardly tearing at a piece of parchment.

"Since when?!" I say surprised at sudden calmness.

She peers up from underneath her long lashes. "He said he could never go out with a Slytherin" she mutters, her cheeks blushing.

I feel my blood boil, as I clench my hands into tight fists.

"The fuck is wrong with this school" I mutter under my breath. "Seriously, Harper you're the hottest girl in this school, and they're just intimidated by it" I say releasing my fists and giving her hand a tight squeeze. She gives me a small smile in reply.

Before I can add more, Professor Slughorn coughs and launches into today's lesson.

My mind wanders as he drones on about everlasting elixirs. I was furious about Cedric. I had a few friends in Gryffindor during my first few years at Hogwarts but after the dark lord came back into the picture, they all made some piss poor excuses to not hang out with me. The shadow of being a Slytherin was always going to follow us, and being a half-blood made it ten times worse.

Before I know it, Harper stands up from her stool and starts rearranging my neatly placed ingredients.

"Hey stop!" I say pushing her away from my organised mess.

After class, we both walk towards the courtyard, desperate for some warm sun on this cool autumn day.

We spread ourselves out on the lawn, basking in the golden light.

"You really need to tan more often" Harper mumbles as she shields her eyes from the sun.

I ignore her comment and watch the Weasley twins kick a small ball around the courtyard in front of us. I lean back onto my elbows and feel the heat tickle on my skin.

"Hey" Blaise calls out as he runs over and crashes down next to me.

"Harps, I saw Cedric making his way over" he said wiggling his dark eyebrows.

Harper lifts her hand from her eyes and gives Blaise a glare not meant for this world.

"Woah what happened?" he said leaning away from me.

"Cedric's a dick that's what happened" I say, still watching the boys kick around their incredibly small ball.

"What did he do?" Blaise says, his tone switching. "Did he hurt you?!" He asks as he sits up and peers over to Harper.

"No, he didn't touch me. He wouldn't touch me. Said I'm a Slytherin." Harper spits out.

"Whats wrong with that?" Blaise says innocently.

I laugh at his innocence.

"Blaise seriously, have you not have one girl say they wouldn't date or talk to you because you're a Slytherin. It literally happens all the time to us" I reply.

He stumbles. "I mean, I've never wanted to date anyone in another house, so no".

I look at him bewildered.

"You've dated before though right?" I say, trying to search my memory.

He looks at me awkwardly, and pulls his eyes away before he replies.

"Yes, of course I have. Just not anyone from school" He says quietly.

Harper springs up. "Who have you dated?!" She cries excitedly, "How do we not know this?!"

"You never ask" he mumbles, his eyes squinting from the sun.

I watch as Harper shuffles around me and to Blaise's side.

"Tell me everything" she whispers, a huge grin plastered on her face.

"No," he replies.

"Don't be so stubborn Blaise, c'mon we're friends tell me who the special girl is!" She pushes.

"There's no special girl" he bluntly says, before he pulls out a pear from his robes.

"Did she dump you?" Harper sing-songs.

I roll my eyes at her teasing.

Blaise just bites down on his pear in reply.

"Do you think it will always be like this?" I ask Harper. She looks over at me tentatively.

"What do you mean?"

"Are people always going to judge us just because where in Slytherin?" I ask, biting my short nails.

"Well no, we're not going to be known as Slytherin's when we leave Hogwarts" she replies, giving me a small smile.

I smile back, grateful for a friend that radiates optimism even on her darkest days.

Draco's POV

My eyes feel dry and itchy, an irksome side effect of my long night. My run in with Aster ran circles in my mind all night. I had to find out who she had a crush on.

"Hey, did you hear that Flint girl has a crush on someone in our group?" I mumble, not saying to anyone in particular.

"The Half-blood?" Crabbe grumbles as he fiddles with his shoelace.

"I mean she's hot enough to bang, but I don't know if I could touch a half-blood" Montangue hoarse voice grumbles.

I look up to find Montague scanning the courtyard, finding his next victim. His large eyes take in every weakness in the vicinity.

I don't reply, careful to not bring too much attention to the topic. I wasn't sure why exactly, but I was hoping no one was chatting her up. The boys tended to switch girls every few weeks, I had no idea how they went through them so quickly, it wasn't as if there were many pureblood girls in our year anyway.

"I thought she had a thing with Cedric" Crabbe adds.

I look to my side. Crabbe gives me a suspicious look.

"Nah that's that Bainbridge girl, the one that crawls over every girl that pays attention to her" I mutter bored.

Montague watches a second year drop his books as he walks past. He kicks one that lands close to us and watches it land face down in the garden bed.

"Why are you so interested in girls all of a sudden Malfoy?" He snickers.

"I'm not" I grunt, giving him my hardest stare.

"Here you go Malfoy, just what you ordered" Montague gives me a slimy grin as he nods towards the trio walking past us.

Flint and Bainbridge strut past arm in arm with Blaise trailing behind them.

"Hey Flint! Heard you got a crush on one of us? Which one is it?! It's gotta be me, I'm the only handsome one in this ugly bunch" He shouts, punching me on the arm. My throat goes dry, as I see Aster's eyes flicker in annoyance, a hint of humour shadowing them.

This girl does not flinch.

I stand tall, taking my back off of the stone wall behind me.

"Oh no you've caught me, I'm so in love with you Montague. It drives me crazy every day. I see you and I can't help but picture you and me..." her voice drips of honey as she steps closer and closer to Montague, his eyes blanch at her forwardness. His face goes pale.

She chuckles, the sound reverberating through my bones.

"In your dreams Montague" She finishes, Bainbridge gives us a proud smirk as she pulls Aster away from us.

I feel my breath return to normal, and shake myself from the trance she just put me in. I look over at Montague, his face still pale.

"Fuck Montague, can't handle the ladies huh?" I say, as I shove into him on my out of the courtyard.